The event honors Folsom for her culinary endeavors, raises awareness and funding for the PPCC Culinary Arts program, and also provides PPCC culinary students hands-on, real-life experience in concepting and creating a menu, while also running a restaurant for one evening.

Throughout the school year, PPCC culinary students work closely with faculty creating and preparing dishes for the annual dinner. Typically held in the fall, this year the event was moved to the spring, allowing students more time to learn and prepare and also more time to work with experienced local Executive Chefs, Jay Gust of Pizza Rustica and TAPAteria and Brother Luck of Brother Luck’s Street Eats.

During a tasting, just weeks ago, the students’ dishes were presented to a panel of judges including Folsom, Coleman, and PPCC’s Associate Dean/Chef Rob Hudson. Input received helped fine-tune and finalize the recipes, creating one of a kind spring dishes.

“This collaborative event is a great addition to our community’s flourishing culinary scene. And, more importantly, it is providing PPCC students with essential real-world experience,” explains Chef Gust.

More than 200 people have attended the dinner in the past two years. Funds raised helped provide five scholarships. Last year alone two PPCC Culinary Arts students received $2,600 each for their culinary education. The recipients were Maylen Gasper and Lisa Mazza. Gasper was also awarded the Blue Star Scholarship for $2,600, given to a student whose vision is to leave a lasting impact on the Colorado Springs culinary scene.

Coleman once again underwrites this year’s event. Together with the Foundation for PPCC, the goal is raising money to fund at least three scholarships.

Tickets are $95 per person or $160 per pair and can be purchased at ppcc.edu/franfolsom.

The PPCC Culinary Arts Program is the largest of its kind in the community. It serves more than 500 students and graduates more than 80 students annually. The program received an Exemplary Status by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accreditation Committee and has a 95 percent job placement rate.

Pikes Peak Community College is in its 47th year of operation and has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1975. It is a two-year college offering 158 associate degrees and various certifications in career and technical fields. With four campuses and two military education centers in El Paso County, PPCC serves approximately 21,000 students annually.